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Dragonfly Coffee Roasters

Yemen Haraaz

Blind Assessment: Evaluated as espresso. Apricot, lychee, sandalwood, cashew butter, honeysuckle in aroma and small cup. Creamy-smooth mouthfeel; rich finish that surfaces herb notes suggesting marjoram, along with lychee and apricot. In three parts milk, this coffee is fruit-driven, its tartness tempered by honeysuckle and sandalwood notes.

Notes: This coffee tied for the second-highest rating in a tasting of natural-processed single-origin espressos for Coffee Review’s August 2018 tasting report. Haraz (also Haraaz, other spellings) is a celebrated coffee growing region in north-central Yemen, west of the capital of San’a. Although Ethiopia is the botanical home of Coffea arabica, Yemen introduced the beverage to the rest of the world in the 16th and 17th centuries, and Yemeni coffee is still grown from ancient cultivars and sun-dried, usually on the roofs of stone houses. This is a particularly refined example of the type. Dragonfly Coffee is a Boulder, Colorado-based micro-roaster that produces high-quality coffees and supports worthy causes. Visit www.dragonflycoffeeroasters.com or call 303-579-2154 for more information.

The Bottom Line: A powerhouse espresso from this ancient origin, assertively fruit-toned and elegantly floral.